Photos and the City

Tag: Highlands

  • Applecross Peninsula

    My hosts at the Seadrift B&B not only make the very best porridge of all times, but they are also great at helping you to plan your tour! As I´ve been already to Skye in the main season last year I wanted to avoid that (and come back during more quiet times). I just knew I wanted to explore further north.

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    So they recommended to tour (and walk) around the Applecross peninsula – and what a stunning piece of North-Western Scotland it is. The drive over the pass isn´t that easy, thing super narrow streets and very tight curves but the view from up there is just gobsmacking! I only had a few seconds before the sky opened up and rain poured down but these few seconds…

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    Over the 2053’ road called the Bealach na Ba, if the cloud has lifted, you’ll see the kind of views normally reserved only for mountaineers. Panoramas to the Outer Hebrides and South to the Kintail mountains will keep you gazing until you need to descend to the village for warmth and sustenance. (Applecross.co.uk)

    applecross, hightlands, scotland, skye, uk, travel, photos and the city, my british summerapplecross, hightlands, scotland, skye, uk, travel, photos and the city, my british summerapplecross, hightlands, scotland, skye, uk, travel, photos and the city, my british summer

    Back on the other side, I arrived at the Applecross bay and the sun was back. There are a few crofting villages scattered around the coastline and the name “Applecross” is about 1300 years old.

    The area around Applecross is believed to be one of the earliest settled parts of Scotland. The coastal settlement of Sand, just to the north of Applecross, is the location of a major archaeological site. (Visitscotland)

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  • Oban – An t-Òban

    oban, scotland, uk, highlands, my trip to the highlands

    After my little boat trip, it was time to explore the Scottish Capital of Seafood further. Oban’s history dates way back to the mesolithic times. “Evidence of early cave dwellers has been found in several locations in the center of Oban, coincidentally at Oban Distillery – around which modern day Oban grew.” (Old Oban)

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands

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    From being the hub “Kingdom of Dalriata: the kingdom of the Scotii tribe, the seed from which the Kingdom of Scotland would grow.”(Oban History) in the 6th century to be of lesser importance when the center of power moved more inland in the 9th century to become the periphery of the Scots kingdom in the 11th century when the Western island where in the hands of the Vikings, who dominated the sea.

    The MacDougall family, who were of Viking descent, turned their backs on the Vikings in 1263 at the time of the battle of Largs, in which Scotland wrested back the Western Isles from the Vikings, and at the same time established themselves as one of the most powerful families in Scotland. The MacDougalls were to develop Dunollie Castle (formerly Dun Ollaigh) in the 12th century as one of their primary strongholds, which it remained until 1746 when they relocated to nearby Dunollie House. The neglected castle fell into ruins, which are all that exist today. (Oban History)

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    The modern Oban grew around the distillery which was founded in 1794. Until Victorian times Oban remained a quite fisher village when in the 19th-century steam ships started to use it as a stopping point between Glasgow and Inverness along the Caledonian and Crinan canals. Oban became a ferry port. The railway arrived in 1880 and Victorian buildings started to pop up along the coastline. In 1887 the construction of McCaig’s Tower(how it is called today) started as a private project of banker John S. McCaig.

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    The old carriage way to  Dunollie Castle starts right next to this cottage and follows the horseshoe shape of the bay. The castle and Dunollie House were already closed when I arrived but the view was still beautiful!

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    An t-Òban, meaning “little bay” in Scottish Gaelic, and to this day it is an important Gaelic center and hosts the biggest Gaelic cultural festival, Royal National Mòd.

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    I had planned to get a little bit freshened up in my B&B and then walk to McCaig’s tower to enjoy the sunset (around 23:00) but the lounge at the Blair Villa was so cozy and comfortable, that I didn´t make it out again. If you ever stay in Oban, I can´t recommend it enough – it feels like home (and a little bit like traveling back in time) – and the view over the bay is amazing!

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  • People who stare at baby seals

    Early morning I walked from my cosy Airbnb with a view to Queen Street Station in Glasgow and boarded the train to my second stop: Oban

    If you´re travelling by train, try to sit on the left side – until Loch Long the view is spectacular on this side! Then change to the right side and enjoy Loch Lochmond, after that, it more or less doesn´t matter as both sides are breathtaking. It takes about 3 hours and you won´t get bored just pressing your nose against the window.oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands, trainStepping out of the train station I got greeted by a sign offering boat tours, the next one starting in about one hour – perfect! I had tried to book a long boat trip around the bay but that one didn´t take place, so this would be the ideal start for my day in Oban. It was just a short walk to my B & B, where I left my luggage, got a cup of tea and was ready to go.

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlandsThis was another company but we more or less took the same route.

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlandsView of Oban (with McCaig’s Tower on top) from the sea.

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlandsKerrera (island)

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands

    On the other side of the bay: Dunollie Castle, once the seat of Clan MacDougall.

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlandsOn the other side of Kerrera Island – the first seals swam by and everyone got really excited – I kind of had forgotten that we were supposed the see some, I was happy enough to enjoy the ride and the landscape.

    People who stare at baby seals 1

    … and finding new dream houses, perfect for some alone time (very alone…)

     

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlandsAnd while they were talking about some of the birds, even more seals swam by and then we were at their favourite “hanging place”.

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlandsThis little guy was my favourite – he definitely enjoyed it being in the spotlight.

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    Time to say good bye and go back to Oban

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    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands

    The tour lasted for about one hour and is more than worth taking it!